Chapter 4 Return

That night, Ethan hastily booked a flight back to New York. Upon landing, he stashed his belongings in an airport locker before making his way to the police station where he had received the distressing call.

Frantically wiping the sweat from his brow, he inquired about Mr. Matthew, who had contacted him. He was directed to a waiting area where the man soon appeared.

"Are you Ethan? Helen's brother?" Mr. Matthew asked as they took their seats.

"Yes, that's me," Ethan confirmed, his head nodding in agreement. "You mentioned something about my sister. What exactly is going on? That can't be her. You do realize who she is married to, right?"

"Her husband is Ferdinand Moore, the CEO," Matthew interjected.

"Yes, exactly," Ethan responded with a sigh.

"Unfortunately, Helen was murdered. Her lifeless body was discovered at the bottom of a cliff. We're investigating the circumstances, but it's been challenging without any surveillance footage or evidence," Matthew informed him solemnly.

"No, I refuse to believe it," Ethan declared, shaking his head in disbelief. "That can't be my sister."

"Why don't we go see her body for confirmation?" Matthew suggested. Ethan swallowed hard, but agreed, following him to the mortuary to face the harsh reality.

On the steel table lay a body covered with white sheets. Matthew and Ethan approached, lifting the cover to reveal Ethan's sister. His heart sank, reality crashing down on him like a ton of bricks. This was no dream.

"No!" Ethan cried out, tears streaming down his face. He collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed with grief and disbelief. But then a sudden flash of memory gripped him, and he grabbed Matthew's arm urgently.

"What is it?" Matthew inquired, concern etched on his face.

"I... I remember something now," Ethan said, composing himself with effort. "She called me last night, panicked and out of breath. She said she saw something she shouldn't have seen."

"And what did she see?" Matthew probed, his eyes searching Ethan's face.

"She... She just mentioned Ferdinand's name," Ethan revealed, his voice trembling. "But she didn't get to finish her sentence before the call was cut off. I tried calling her back, but there was no response. Then, your call came. Mr. Matthew, I have a gut feeling that Ferdinand is involved in this. Doesn't it seem suspicious to you?" Ethan questioned, his suspicion evident in his tone.

Matthew just chuckled and shook his head.

"What's so funny?" Ethan demanded. "I'm telling the truth. Ferdinand is the prime suspect - you need to look into this!"

"Actually, Ferdinand is in the hospital right now," Matthew said.

"Hospital?" Ethan asked, taken aback. "What happened?"

"Yes, he was admitted last night," Matthew said. "He didn't go home, and he never saw his wife after the crash. He's unconscious right now and has no idea about the tragedy. I feel so bad for him. Can you imagine how he'll feel when he finds out?" He sighed, shaking his head sadly.

"What caused the crash?" Ethan asked. "Can't you see that he's lying? He's using you, Matthew. Don't you see that?"

"Hear me out," Matthew said. "His secretary confirmed that he was on a business trip in Singapore. He was on his way home from the airport when the accident occurred. I know this doesn't look good, but you need to consider the evidence. The car is totaled and the driver is in critical condition, but they're both alive. You can't even recognize the car!"

Ethan's jaw clenched as tears rolled down his cheeks. He looked at Helen and turned to Matthew. "I know what you're saying, but I'm convinced Ferdinand is involved. If you can't help me, I'll find a way to prove Ferdinand's involvement on my own. I'm not going to rest until I bring him down."

Mathew watched him walk out of the room, looking utterly confused. A few days passed, and Ethan tried to settle into a new routine. He would spy at Ferdinand's every day, hoping he would wake up so that he would start his vengeance.

One day, Ethan received news that Ferdinand had finally woken up. He hurried to the hospital, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. When he arrived, he made his way to Ferdinand's room and discreetly observed from a distance. Inside, he saw Ferdinand sitting up in bed, his expression pained and sorrowful, likely in reaction to the news of his wife's tragic passing.

Alongside Ferdinand were his parents, a young man who Ethan recognized as Ferdinand's brother, and a veiled woman whose presence seemed to add an air of mystery to the somber scene. Ethan's resolve hardened as he watched, knowing that the moment of reckoning was drawing near.

Determined to fulfill his mission, Ethan reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone. With a steely look in his eyes, he placed a call. "Are you prepared to proceed?" he inquired quietly.

The voice on the other end confirmed, "Yes, everything is in place."

"Excellent. Let us begin," Ethan replied before ending the call.

As Ethan turned his face as a figure approached him. Their eyes met briefly, a shared understanding passing between them. The figure was dressed in a mask and a dark cap, exuding an air of readiness and purpose.

Startled by the newcomer's presence, Ferdinand's mother spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "Who are you? How did you gain entry here?"

Ethan glanced at the fallen guards around them, incapacitated by a mysterious spray that had rendered them unconscious. He had disguised himself in a guard's uniform, seamlessly blending in with their ranks to move undetected.

The tension in the room was palpable, and Ethan braced himself for the impending confrontation, fully committed to seeing his plan through to its conclusion.

"Who is Ferdinand?" the man screamed.

Ferdinand's heart pounded in his chest. He didn't know what was happening, or who this man was. "It's me... What do you want? Who are you?" he stammered.

The man's eyes narrowed, and he began to laugh. "So, it's you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun, and pointed it directly at Ferdinand.

Everyone in the room froze, not daring to breathe. The nun was praying under her breath, and the others had their eyes tightly shut.

The room was eerily quiet, everyone frozen in terror. The man pointed the gun at Ferdinand, who was trembling and unable to speak. The nun's whispered prayers filled the air.:

Just as the man was about to pull the trigger, the door burst open. A tall, dark figure rushed into the room. Before anyone could react, the figure leaped in front of Ferdinand, shielding him from the man's aim. The bullet hit the figure instead.

The room was still as the others processed what had just happened. Their eyes followed the shooter as he fled through the door. All at once, they turned to see Ferdinand staring at the young guard who had saved him. They realized that the guard was none other than Ethan, who had been pretending to be a guard in order to be close to Ferdinand– Well, if only they knew.

"Call the doctor!" Ferdinand shouted, holding Ethan close. "Quick!"